October 27, 2015 — Awards were presented for the 41st annual National History Day Contest in June at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. More than 600,000 students from around the world competed in five categories: documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, and websites.

Why did nearly 3,000 middle and high school students present their work related to the 2015 theme, Leadership and Legacy in History? What inspires a passion in history in the contestants from 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and international schools in Central America, China, Korea, and South Asia?

That’s what Let’s Talk Live host Kidd O’Shea asked Cathy Gorn, director of National History Day — and David Bruce Smith, founder of the Grateful American™ Foundation.

O’Shea asked:

David — Let’s start with you. You founded the Grateful American Foundation in late 2013 with the goal of restoring enthusiasm in American history for kids — and adults. And, you recently interviewed Cathy for your Grateful American TV Show. What is one thing that you appreciate most about what the folks at National History Day are doing for kids?

Cathy — Tell us about your organization. When was it founded? What was its mission? And how long have you been with the group? And what is your affiliation with the University of Maryland?

Cathy — Now tell us about this year’s competition. We understand that students
spend an entire year preparing these projects, and the best of the best are showcased for a the Night at the Museum at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Tell us about that.

Cathy — There’s a lot of judging that happens to decide which of the projects are the best. In fact, David Bruce Smith will be a judge at this year’s National History Day in June. How does the judging process work?

David — You always share with us a fascinating fact about the historic organization you help bring on Let’s Talk Live. What is the one thing that you have learned thanks to Cathy’s National History Day program?

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